When Sherri Rasmussen is found murdered, police are convinced it’s a burglary gone wrong. The case remains unsolved for over two decades until another detective finds the key that unlocks the mystery of what actually happened to her. Josh Mankiewicz reports.
Sherry Rasmussen's murder remained a mystery for over two decades, leaving her family with a hole in their hearts. Teresa and Rachel along with younger sister Jessica share their experiences and emotions regarding the tragedy.
Even with physical evidence the killer was still not found for 23 years. It was only through DNA testing in 2009 that LAPD was able to identify the suspect, who shockingly turned out to be linked to other crimes in the area.
A discussion about how being tall can make dating difficult for men and women, and how it can lead to feelings of intimidation for potential partners.
The detectives investigate a homicide case where the victim was killed in her living room and her car was stolen from the sub-basement parking area. The detectives found evidence of an up close and personal fight from the bite mark on the victim's left forearm.
Detectives in a murder investigation locked onto a new lead when two suspects were identified as responsible for the crime through police sketches.
After 15 years of little progress in solving his sister's murder case, a new detective unit harnessing new technologies was proposed. However, the family continued to struggle emotionally as they realized the new detectives had nothing new to offer.
LAPD detective Jim Nuttall investigates a murder case with a missing piece of information in the official case file.
The burglary gone wrong theory that investigators had worked for the past 23 years was debunked with the discovery of a female DNA profile at the scene, making the case more manageable. Detective Cliff Shepard had already seen the stacked stereo equipment with blood on it four years earlier but finding a male-female burglar team was a dead end.
Detectives Nuttall and Bugg started working the Rasmussen investigation with a new perspective and with the help of two more homicide detectives, they were able to narrow down the list of persons of interest. The investigation had progressed greatly and they set out to track Jennifer down for questioning.
An ex-detective reflects on the challenges and successes of being part of the first wave of female officers in the LAPD. Later on, the same detective shares insight on the struggles of investigating fellow police officers for homicide.
The reopened case of Sherri Rasmussen's murder leads to LAPD detectives asking old questions of John Rutten, including whether he had issues with an ex-girlfriend, and uncovers potential evidence that could solve the case.
John, a witness to a murder investigation, reveals how the police used a ruse to get the suspect's DNA sample leading to her arrest for a decades-old case of art theft turned murder; he added they were clueless about the connection initially.
The speaker expresses confusion and frustration regarding the deviation from the promised topic of a podcast episode, and questions why the conversation has shifted towards a historical figure rather than art.
The speaker hints at suspicion towards John Rutten, who may have been involved in the disappearance of Susan Powell. He questions why detectives didn't look into John's ex-girlfriend and mentions his advice for them to investigate her.
Cold case detective, Cliff Sheppard, rejects the idea that there was a cover-up in the murder case of Officer Christopher Reyka, who was shot dead while on duty in Florida in 2007. Sheppard argues that if he wanted to engage in a thorough cover-up, he could have just dumped the murder books and stopped working on the case.
Stephanie Lazarus was convicted of the 1986 murder of Sherry Rasmussen after evidence revealed her obsession with Rasmussen's husband, John Rutten, including a photo she took in college and internet searches years later.
The killer detective continues to receive her Los Angeles Police Department pension even though she's locked up, while the family of her victim struggles to keep her memory alive.